25 Best Rap Albums of 2017

There's a saying that you should always expect the unexpected, but many rap fans didn't know what the writing on the wall was coming into 2017. 2016 had been a landmark year for rap music, with a slew of monumental albums that put fans on the edge of their seats, waiting in anticipation for their release date to come. However, while 2016 may go down in rap history as one of the more memorable years in rap of this decade, 2017 has been even more fruitful, with a new high-profile album from buzzworthy rookies, legendary elder statesmen, independent vanguards and superstars being unleashed almost every week.

We’ve been blessed with an abundance of major releases that have gotten the people more excited about the genre in comparison to the indifference that was prevalent just a few years ago. And with good reason, being that almost every album that has touched down since Jan. 1 has been well-received and set the stage for what is sure to be an eventful year for hip-hop. Everyone from mainstream darlings to underground mainstays have contributed to this modern renaissance of great rap music and changed the narrative that “hip-hop is dead," with music that proves that rap is more alive than ever.

With 2017 coming to a close, The BoomBox culled through various rap albums that were released this year and picked 20 that we feel stood out from the pack. So without further ado, here's our list of the 25 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2017. Did your favorite LP make the cut?